One thing I'm learning, especially in mage arenas, is to be careful about 4 drops (which lightspawn is also). There seem to be so many "quality" 4-drops that it's easy to overload on them. Argus, spellbreaker, dark iron...the list goes on. I suppose that could be one reason NOT to pick lightspawn
It may be one reason, but it's not the reason I hate it. If you play it and then it gets silenced, you are going to have a hard time coming back. I also hate it because its attack can be manipulated. Stuff like equality or hunter's mark make it a 1/1 which can easily be killed by a minion that would've died if the lightspawn had more attack. This kind of scenario is very common if you play it while your opponent has some minions on the board. They can damage it to lower its attack and then they might only lose 1 card (if any) rather than what a 4/5 or 3/5 would go.
It seem that some the table cells' html is corrupted.
Druid: Windfury Harp Priest: Silence and Windfury Harp Rogue: Windfury Harpy Shaman: Windfury Harpy and Dust Devil? Warlock: Windfury Harpy Warrior: Windfury Harpy and Charge?
Wow, I'm impressed. I've tried Priest for 3 arenas in a row and have not been able to go past 4 wins. There must be something I'm missing...
There are some rankings that switch around/change depending on what you already have. For me the auchenai is an auto pick because circle of healing has a ton of hidden value, and you really just need board clear as a priest. I usually tend to pick circle if the other picks aren't that great. A lot of my ~12 wins drafts have had a thoughsteal in it. I also do not recommend picking the lightspawn. I hate that card so much. I'd be happy to elaborate if you want.
So much work has gone into these lists, but I do wonder how useful such things are for newer players; afterall, the real skill in drafting is in knowing when one should deviate from "value" picks and draft the weaker card (e.g: Curve considerations, Card draw, finishers/"outs", etc).
Surely (if one could find a way to teach it) this is the skill that needs to be promoted?
You are right. Sometimes it's as simple as looking at what cards you have. Like if you have drafted a circle of healing and are up against an Auchenai Soulpriest, an Argent Commander and an Azure Drake. This would probably be a hard pick for most people (I usually just auto pick auchenai), but the auchenai gets so much higher in value at that point.
Shadow word death should be higher on the list, and mind control should be lower.
i agree with shadow word death, maybe it could switch places with acidic swamp ooze. i dont see acidic swamp ooze as a-rank, considering that mage is the most popular class in the arena.
but i disagree on mind control, in the arena it is GODLY. 10 mana surely is expensive, but it turns so many arena games, and you most often reach turn 10 and get to play it. and then it always trades 2 for 1, guaranteed. top rank for mind control is deserved. when the board is more or less balanced and both players are more or less in topdeck mode, double mind control will kill you.
I've been picking priest in arena whenever it shows up lately, and most of my drafts have been good and go 7+ wins (I've had a few 12s recently). I would just like to say that I was partially wrong on mind control. Unless if there is a very good card contesting with it (such as an ogre) then I would tend to pick mind control. Most of my good drafts have focused on good early game and some late game while being able to fall back on mind controls. You are able to control the game very easily this way. I still would pick death over mind control earlier on though.
I would kindly suggest that Sludge Belcher be up graded for most classes. I see it at 'c' rank for most classes. Worst case for you Is that he gets silenced. Most of the time he will still trade for another card and this also means that your opponent isn't silencing more important cards. Best case is he trades for 3 cards and massive tempo.
i would argue he deserves an 'a' rank for most classes.
just giving feedback. Otherwise this list is mostly amazing, IMO.
Yeah the sludge belcher is way too low.
I also think the lightspawn from priest is way too high.
Shadow word death should be higher on the list, and mind control should be lower.
i agree with shadow word death, maybe it could switch places with acidic swamp ooze. i dont see acidic swamp ooze as a-rank, considering that mage is the most popular class in the arena.
but i disagree on mind control, in the arena it is GODLY. 10 mana surely is expensive, but it turns so many arena games, and you most often reach turn 10 and get to play it. and then it always trades 2 for 1, guaranteed. top rank for mind control is deserved. when the board is more or less balanced and both players are more or less in topdeck mode, double mind control will kill you.
I'd pick death over mind control. Mind control doesn't help you get to the end game, it's high value, but it's not that great without being able to use it. So I always prioritize the early game over it in a draft. Which means that it shouldn't be in the highest tier since that tier is usually an auto pick tier. Death is an auto pick.
I'd also say shadow madness is probably ranked too high, and the sludge belcher is too low.
I disagree with the summoning portal rank for lock. It is better than an F rank. I've drafted it quite a few times with lock now and it has only helped. It is really good for regaining your tempo.
Yeah I agree. Ice lance is terrible. I also disagree with the mana wyrm rank. I don't think I'd pick it over a harvest golem or dark iron dwarf unless if my deck is spell heavy crazy aggro.
It may be one reason, but it's not the reason I hate it. If you play it and then it gets silenced, you are going to have a hard time coming back. I also hate it because its attack can be manipulated. Stuff like equality or hunter's mark make it a 1/1 which can easily be killed by a minion that would've died if the lightspawn had more attack. This kind of scenario is very common if you play it while your opponent has some minions on the board. They can damage it to lower its attack and then they might only lose 1 card (if any) rather than what a 4/5 or 3/5 would go.
Thank you. It's being worked on. No ETA.
There are some rankings that switch around/change depending on what you already have. For me the auchenai is an auto pick because circle of healing has a ton of hidden value, and you really just need board clear as a priest. I usually tend to pick circle if the other picks aren't that great. A lot of my ~12 wins drafts have had a thoughsteal in it. I also do not recommend picking the lightspawn. I hate that card so much. I'd be happy to elaborate if you want.
You are right. Sometimes it's as simple as looking at what cards you have. Like if you have drafted a circle of healing and are up against an Auchenai Soulpriest, an Argent Commander and an Azure Drake. This would probably be a hard pick for most people (I usually just auto pick auchenai), but the auchenai gets so much higher in value at that point.
I've been picking priest in arena whenever it shows up lately, and most of my drafts have been good and go 7+ wins (I've had a few 12s recently). I would just like to say that I was partially wrong on mind control. Unless if there is a very good card contesting with it (such as an ogre) then I would tend to pick mind control. Most of my good drafts have focused on good early game and some late game while being able to fall back on mind controls. You are able to control the game very easily this way. I still would pick death over mind control earlier on though.
Yeah the sludge belcher is way too low.
I also think the lightspawn from priest is way too high.
I'd pick death over mind control. Mind control doesn't help you get to the end game, it's high value, but it's not that great without being able to use it. So I always prioritize the early game over it in a draft. Which means that it shouldn't be in the highest tier since that tier is usually an auto pick tier. Death is an auto pick.
I'd also say shadow madness is probably ranked too high, and the sludge belcher is too low.
Shadow word death should be higher on the list, and mind control should be lower.
I disagree with the Webspinner and Sludge Belcher Rankings. I think they should both be higher.
I disagree with the summoning portal rank for lock. It is better than an F rank. I've drafted it quite a few times with lock now and it has only helped. It is really good for regaining your tempo.
Yeah I agree. Ice lance is terrible. I also disagree with the mana wyrm rank. I don't think I'd pick it over a harvest golem or dark iron dwarf unless if my deck is spell heavy crazy aggro.